Method of making ball retainers



May 17,1927.

H. N. PARSONS METHOD OF MAKING BALL RETAINERS Filed Mar ch 5', 1926 Patented May 17, 1 927.-

. UNITED S AT-Es- .BLABBY Na PARSONS,

PATENT OFFICE...

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO. MARLIN-ROCKWELL GOR- PORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ammnon or Meme BALL Business.

lppfleation filed March 5, 192a. Serial m.- e2,4e5. 7

This invention relates to ball retainersiand.

to the method of making the'same, and is fully described in the following specification andis shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the flat blank from which the retainer elements are made;

Fig.2 is a similar view of the same showing the intermediate portions pressed up to form hemisphericalball pockets;

Fig; 3 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 4 is the blank trimmed to a true circle on the inside; V

. Fig. 5 is the blank of Fig. 2 trimmed to a true circle on the outside Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the ball retainer showing the blanks, of Figs. 4 and A 5 assembled and riveted; and

Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are views similar to Figs. 4, 5, and 6 respectively showing the blank of Fig. 2 trimmed so as to form a narrower retainer. I The embodiments illustrated comprise ball retainers which are made from a fiat piece of sheet steel or the like, as shown in Fig. 1, in which are concentric circular portions 10 between which are wider intermediate portions 11. The latter extend on both sides of .the circular portionslO and, on the next operation, are curved upwardly to form semi-. spherical ball pockets 12 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The ball retainers shown in section in Figs. 6 and 9 areadapted primarily to be used with'angular contact bearings.

For this reason, the retainer element 13 is trimmed to a true circle on the inside, while the element 14 is trimmed to a true circleon the outside, these two circlespreferably being substantially coincident with the circular portions 10 of Fig. 1. Thus, it will be seen, the axis of the ball pocket lies at an angle to the axis of the retainer. The flatv portions of both otthese' blanks are provided with registering openings 15 adapted to receive rivets 16 as shown in ;F' 6. By this arrangement, the inner edge 0 one element and the outer. edge of the other is serrated while the other edges are circular.

is shown an element 17 or retainer with the inside trimmed to a larger diameter than that of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 shows a corresponding element 18 trimmed to a smaller outside diameter than that of Fig.

- 5. When these two are then assembled as side is done from the blank after it is formedinto cups as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus a number of retainers maybe formed from thiscupped blank by the relatively simple and inexpensive operation of trimming it by means of circular dies (not shown).

Thus it will be seen that a number of relatively complicated ball retainer stripptures may be made from a single blank, t e only expensive dies .to manufacture and maintain being those which are requ red to cut the original blanks shown Fig. 1.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment-of this invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of manymodifications. Changes therefore in the construction and arrangement may be made which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of making ball retainers consisting of forming two flat rings with substantially annular portions concentric with the center of said ring and with wider intermediate portions curved both inwardly and outwardly from said concentric portions,

pressing said intermediate portions into hemi- I spherical form on one side of the concentric portions which lie in substantiallythe' same planeftrimming an edge of each of said rings to substantially a true circle, and uniting said rings toform a-retainer for balls.

The method of -making ball retainers f cc of forming two flat rings with substantially annular portions concentric,

with the center at each and with wider we intermediate portions curved both inwardly and out-wardlv from said concentric portions, pressing said intermediate portions into hemispherical form on one side of the concentric portions Which lie in substantially the same plane, trimmin an edge of each of said rings to substantially a true circle,

and uniting said rings to form a retainer for balls, one ring being trimmed on theinside, the other on the outside so that the 10 axis of each ball pocket will lie at an angle to the axis of the retainer.

HARRY N. mesons. 

